Some of you know from my comments on Facebook, that I’ve not been feeling all that great. Lupus is a real challenge because for the most part, you look okay. I think I look like crud but people tell me I look okay. On the inside though, you feel like you are dying. Not all the time, but sometimes. That was me this week.
I can’t ignore how I feel because it affects everything that I do but I am going to try to focus on the good. I have good days. I can still walk. Pain is not really my issue. I have supportive family and friends to cheer me up when I am really not feeling well and I have my books. I think that puts me in a pretty good place!
Yesterday we went to the A Cappella Festival to hear The Teen compete against other schools. They walked away with $2500 and a plaque. I thought they did really well. It was held at my alma mater. It was like going back in time. The place hasn’t changed all that much. Kind of neat to see The Teen perform on the same stage I did years ago.
The Teen (middle) and a couple of his friends while on break. If you look closely, The Girl can be seen on the lower left. She appears to be thinking something. Hmmm.
Right Now:
A quick breakfast and a good cup of coffee and we are off to church. Nothing else planned for the day except volunteering at church later today.
This Week:
The Teen is preparing for his audition/performance for The Jerry Herman awards. He gets to perform in the ensemble for sure, but since he was nominated for the Best Actor category, he has to audition at the end of this month. Headshots need to be taken. Resume has been drafted. Songs have been chosen. It’s a very exciting time!
The 21st is our 21st wedding anniversary! No big plans. An evening spent at home, with take-out, sounds perfectly fine to me.
On the 22nd I see my Lupus doc. Cue intimidating music. I’ve seen some of my test results online and as I suspected, they are not good.
Reading:
I tore through We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach. Mixed feelings over this one. I said I was starting A Little Life last week and I did, but not until very late in the week so I am just now getting into it. It’s the type of book that sucks you in quickly.
Watching:
I am watching season four of Mad Men. It’s not as riveting as the previous seasons but I am still loving it.
Bates Motel ended the season with a little craziness. If you watch that show you know that Norma Bates and Norman are all kinds of crazy but I really don’t know where next season will go.
Finally saw the new Avengers movie. It was entertaining. I didn’t like it as much as the first one. Also sat down to see Into the Woods. Yawn. That one really didn’t do it for me but The Girl loved it.
Making:
Haven’t a clue what to make. Since I am at church until 1 p.m. and then go back around 4 p.m., I really need to know what I’m making before Sunday so I can have the stuff prepped and ready to go. What are you guys making? Give me some ideas.
Grateful for:
Memorial Day weekend! Hey, it’s an extra day and I want to say it falls early this year. The 25th? Yep.
Book Chatter 
My mom and a close friend of mine have lupus, and I am aware of the ongoing issues that creep up. I understand the consequent exhaustion and depression. I wish you the best. You certainly have lots of love in your life–I’m sure that helps.
Thanks, Jean!
It pretty much bites when you feel off…I hope this week is better! Your plate is certainly full!
I’ll be thinking of you this week as you go to your Dr. and see what’s happening with your lupus. i’m sure it’s extremely frustrating to feel bad so much of the time. I can relate in a way, especially about looking totally fine on the outside. When people see me they can’t tell that my blindness is moving at a rapid pace and I can barely see them because I don’t look any different. (Except for the bruises from running into stuff :)) i will keep you in my prayers and send positive thoughts your way.
Lisa, my lupus seems to be focusing on my eyes at the moment so I think of you and your challenges often. When I was first diagnosed, it was all joint related, then vascular and it just seems to be bouncing around. I guess I should be glad that it doesn’t settle in one place for long but the eye thing is bugging me. No permanent damage to the eyes they the dryness is causing corneal abrasions that keep repeating themselves.
My thoughts will stay with you this week, Ti. I’m sending you a bunch of virtual hugs right now ❤
P.S. Your children are gorgeous!
Thank you, Ramona!!
It sucks suffering in a way that people can’t see. I struggle with a lot of pain problems that I think rarely manifest in the way I look, and it’s hard trying to make people believe you fell crappy when they can’t tell you feel crappy by looking at you.
I saw the Avengers movie last night, without having seen its predecessor. It was more fun than I expected.
Hope you have a good week and that the news from the lupus doc is better than you expect!
My husband told me to eat a piece of fruit when I told him I had zero energy. He gets it most days but really? A piece of fruit?? I won’t share what I said in return.
I am hoping that your lupus doctor visit goes well – or at least better than you are expecting.
I have had to have my girls help me with cooking a bit more than usual. I am still adjusting to having one less finger – or a finger that is not usable right now. So, they’ve done a lot of cutting of vegetables. Tonight we are grilling salmon.
Even though I’ve had a few extra days off of work, I’m still not feeling ready to go back. However we are on the countdown to the end of the year now.
And again, good luck to The Teen! Exciting times!
Do you have a finger splint that protects the top? Like the kind people wear when they jam a finger? I had that for my toe when I smashed it and it prevented a lot of pain from me hitting it accidentally. They cost like $3 at the pharmacy but work really well.
Wow, The Teen is obviously very talented! Does the school get that money or do the performers get to split it? I hope your doctor can help you some.
The prize money stays within the choir program itself. Not sure what they plan to do with it.
I wish you all the best with your health. I understand ups and downs that can come with health issues. I hope your doctor finds you some answers.
Congrats to The Teen, what honors! I hope he and his friends got to keep the money, It would be helpful toward college! Every little bit helps.
The prize money stays within the choir program but they are always needing money so it’s good that they won it.
I’ll be thinking of you this week, Ti.
Great stuff with your Teen. He’s getting so grown up! Your girl too, but there is a bit of time for her. So sorry about your lupus. Thinking of you this week and Happy Anniversary to you and the husband! Take care, Ti.
Thank you! Both kids are growing up too fast. I know everyone says the same thing but it sure flies by.
Hoping your doc visit turns unexpectedly positive. Miracles happen.
Sorry to hear you’ve been feeling so crummy, Ti 😦 Hope the doc can find a way to help. Hope you feel better for have anniversary too! Thinking of you — good luck to the teen — I’m sure he’ll shine!
Thanks, Nan!
I hope you feel better soon! I know two people with Lupus and it’s not fun at all. Hope your doctor can help you.
Congrats to the Teen on the a capella performance – he sure has a lot of good things coming up his way!
I am keeping my fingers crossed for you that you have some more good news, and I’m so glad that your son is doing so well with the singing, etc. 21 years! Wow, awesome….that’s an accomplishment. I hope the rest of your week goes well, especially with the Dr. 🙂 sending along some positive thoughts.
Thanks, Serena!
Exciting news about the teen. Wishing him luck!
I’ve been cooking short ribs. Lean, boneless short ribs in a marinara sauce- cooked at low temp in the oven for several hours and served with spaghetti squash or zucchini. Tender and tasty.
Hang in there Tina and hoping you have some great days and feel better.
Mmmm. Those short ribs sound good. We roasted a chicken and rounded it out with mashed potatoes and the like. Felt good to sit down to a home cooked meal. I will enjoy it again for lunch!
Oh Ti! I am sorry you are dealing with feeling so poorly. I feel “off” quite often but no one seems to be able to figure things out. I suspect an underlying autoimmune that hasn’t fully manifested itself yet–so for now I just tell myself that I ache because I am getting old! 😉 As much as you don’t want to go, I am glad you are seeing your lupus doctor–hopefully he can do something to help you manage stuff. I am amazed at all you do for your family while feeling badly–you are a great mom and I can feel through the interweb how proud you are of your kiddos–as well you should be. Congrats to your son, by the way! What an exciting time for him.
I am totally wasting time at work, playing around online. My stomach is a bit off, I have a headache, the office is stuffy and I would just like to go home!
Hugs and love to you–
xoxoxo
Hey, we’ll tough it out together. Monday is almost over!
Sorry to hear that you aren’t feeling well. 😦
Your kids sound busy! Congrats to the Teen! My girl’s has a play this week and then we are done until fall. Yay!!!
Hope your visit to the lupus doctor goes well. And I know what you mean about looking fine on the outside but feeling just so crappy on the inside. But focusing on all the good sounds like a really good strategy. I’ve been finding lately how important my perspective on things is when it comes to my health, and just how I feel generally.
I saw the Avengers movie last weekend, and then, not having seen the first one before, I watched that one just a few days ago. I liked it better, although both were fun. And watching them has got me on a superhero kick!
Happy 21st anniversary! And I wish you all the best with managing lupus. It’s very tough I’m sure but I will hope the doc will give you some relief and meds. I’m headed to SoCal for Memorial Day wknd. It’s my mom’s 80th bday and we are having a celebration in the OC. I’m very excited to go. Enjoy your week. And keep the sun out! http://www.thecuecard.com
Such a handsome picture of the Teen! And happy anniversary yesterday! Hope it was a day filled with love. And I hope that the appointment goes well today. Lots of stuff going on in your world.
I think season 4 is when we stopped watching Mad Men. We caught up to regular TV and I couldn’t be patient enough to wait for a new show every week. One of these days I’ll get back to it.
Hope you have a very relaxing weekend!
The first two episodes of season 5 (Mad Men) were real doozies. I am so loving this show. I can’t forget the appt today. I keep forgetting about it.